Why Might Tennis Players Need Knee Sleeves and Supports?

Posted by Gale Freeman on November 19th, 2022

When people think of common injuries seen in tennis players, tennis elbow typically comes to mind. However, the player's knees are at risk when participating in this sport. A person might fall and hurt their knee or strain it while trying to make a shot.

Many injuries could be avoided with the help of preventative measures. This includes using knee sleeves and braces and seeing a doctor when necessary. What are some common injuries seen in tennis players?

Knee Pain

Knee pain remains a problem for many tennis players. Often, this pain occurs in the front of the knee and is the result of either tendonitis or chondromalacia. These injuries are most common in people who play tennis regularly, as tennis players must spring up from a hard surface when serving the ball.

Many people find using the RICE method helps to relieve this pain. Anti-inflammatory medications may provide relief, and players find they can reduce the risk of these injuries by doing exercises to strengthen the knees.

Patellar Tendonitis

The patellar tendon connects the kneecap and tibia. When the knee is overused or subjected to repetitive strain, patellar tendonitis might develop. Tennis players use explosive movements that can bring about the degeneration of this tendon and micro-tears. This is similar in many ways to jumper's knee, which is common in basketball players. Both sports require a person to jump off a hard surface, which is hard on the knees.

Treating Knee Injuries in Tennis Players

Tennis players often find they must rest their knees when they suffer an injury such as those described above. They may turn to Hg80 knee braces to help with the recovery process, but resting the knee for a few months is often enough to address the problem.

Once the knee has recovered from the injury, strengthening exercises can help to prevent future injuries. Some players also choose to have injections of platelet-rich plasma to help with the healing process. If supports and sleeves don't help and resting the knee isn't enough to allow the knee to recover, a doctor might recommend a tendon excision.

However, this is the last resort and is only used when other methods have failed. Every tennis player should work with their doctor and develop a plan to reduce the risk of injuries and speed the healing process if an injury is sustained.

Doing so ensures the player doesn't overlook anything that can lengthen the time they must stay off the court, as committed players never want to miss time engaging in one of their favorite activities.